Carton dater



Jan- 21, 1964 D. R. JOHNSON ETAL 3,118,370

CARTON DATER Filed July 10, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 DAN/1 x2 i fiY/ gfv BEER/W120 P. JOHNSON ATTOE/VE Y United States Patent 3,118,370 CARTUN DATER Daniel R. Johnson, 9877 Myron St., Pico Rivera, Calif., panslfliemard R. Johnson, 16423 Sylvanwood, Norwalk,

Filed July 10, 1961, Ser. No. 122,907 9 Claims. (Cl. 101-4) This invention relates to a mechanism for dating cartons, for instance, egg cartons, by impressing the date thereon, and has for an object to impress the date and/or other code markings on cartons in rapid succession as the same are being rapidly and continuously moved in end-toend array.

Egg carton dating is carried out on a day-to-day basis since the freshness of the carton contents is important because it affects cost and influences sales. In establishments that handle large quantities of cartons of eggs, the rapidity at which the cartons are dated greatly facilitates packaging and other handling procedures necessary to bring such cartons of eggs to the retail outlets. Hence, the invention is characterized by dating of large supplies of cartons at high speeds and while the same are in continuous movement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a carton (later that is electrically operated and is entirely under the control of the moving cartons, thereby carrying out its dating operations at a speed commensurate to the speed of movement and in synchrony with the carton movement. v

A further object of the invention is to provide a carton dater that, under the control of a successive array of continuously moving cartons, electrically effects instant date-impressing operations, instantly followed by opening of the electric circuit that causes the date-impressing operation, thereby conserving electric current and increasing machine life.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a carton dater, as above, in which mechanical date-impressing means, before the same has effected impression contact with the carton, opens the circuit that causes operative movement of said impressing means.

A yet further object of the invention is to provide a carton dater, as above, that automatically resets the circuit means to initial condition preparatory to the next date-impressing operation.

This invention also has for its objects to provide such means that are positive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in a working position and easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufacture, relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description and which is based on the accompanying drawings. However, said drawings merely show, and the following description merely describes, one embodiment of the present invention, which is given by way of illustration or example only.

In the drawings, like reference similar parts in the several views.

FIG. 1 is a partly broken elevational view of a carton dater according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof taken through the middle portion of said machine and showing the left portion of the machine, as in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view as taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view showing means for instituting date-impressing operation, the view being seen from the right side of FIG. 2 the side opposite to FIG. 1).

characters designate ice FIG. 5 is a wiring diagram of the electrical components of the machine.

The drawings show portions of two cartons 10 of an end-to-end series of such cartons. In practice, this series of cartons, by means of a suitable conveyor, is moved in the direction of arrow 11 (FlGS. 1 and 5) continuously and at any desired speed. It will be seen that said cartons are in collapsed condition and form a continuous wall. According to the invention and preferably at the scams or edges 12 at which the cartons abut, openings K3 in such wall are provided. By providing each end edge of each carton with a notch, the matching notches of abutting cartons form the openings 13. In comparison to the length of a carton, for instance, for a dozen eggs, said openings are quite small, about three-quarters of an inch. The present mechanism is shown as an electricallyoperated machine that impresses a date or other indicia on each carton lil each time an opening 13 moves past an actuator that sets up machine operation. The impression is preferably made on the flap portions 14 of the cartons, although the same may be made at any desired part of the cartons.

The carton dater that is illustrated comprises, generally, a frame 15; guide means 16 for the cartons ill or at least the flap portions 14 thereof as the latter move continuously in the manner above described; a dater unit 17 interchangeably supported in the frame 15; a striker slide 18 guided in said frame for movement to and from date-' impressing position to impress a date or other indicia on the carton flap 14; a solenoid 19* which, when energized, propels said slide 13 toward the dater unit 17 to impress the date on carton flap 14; a return spring 29 for said slide; a normally-closed master switch 21; means 22,'controlled by the slide 18 during movement thereof to strike or impress the cartons, to shift switch 21 from its normally-closed position to an open position; solenoid-operated means 23 for returning switch 21 to closed position; and operating means 24, under control of the cartons 1t) and the mentioned openings 13 thereof, to electrically energize said solenoid 19, switch 21 and reset means 23.

The frame 15 is shown as two preferably vertical walls 25 that are rigidly connected by a bar 26 at the top and by an end cross member 27 inward of which is provided a support bar 28 that spans between walls 25 (FIG.'3) and is formed with a seat 23a for the dater unit 17. Said seat 28a is preferably open at the top so the unit 17 may be interchanged with easy facility. In the bottom of said seat are provided two vertical locating pins 29 to hold unit 17 in place and so the same can be removed only by being upwardly lifted from the seat.

A plate 3t} connects the walls 25 adjacent the bottom edges thereof and serves as a mount for the solenoid w, as will later be more fully described. A snap-on cover plate 31 covers the space between walls 25.

Adjacent the bar 28, both walls 25 are provided with bottom-open slots 32, the same being aligned to accommodate those portions of the guide means 16 that span between said walls.

The above-described frame is preferably carried by hanger straps 33 which are here shown broken but which are affixed to any suitable support to hold the frame in the vertical manner shown so that the cartons may move transversely across the space between Walls 25.

The guide means 16 is shown as a pair of guide plates 45 that extend through the slots 32 and have extensions 46 and 47 that elongate the guide and, respectively, comprise inlet and outlet guide portions for the cartons as the same move through the plates 45 between wflls 215 of the machine frame. Angle pieces 43 are used to atfix the plates of the guide means to the machine frame so the cartons may move smoothly past the dies 36 without 3 snagging thereagainst. Suitable openings 49 are formed in the plate 45 so the striker slide 13 may strike the cartons 14 and, in turn, by impact, press them against the dies in the instantaneous manner herein contemplated.

The dater unit 17 has a shape, in plan, to suit and fit into the seat 29, the same comprising a base member 34 that is provided with holes to fit onto pins 29 and has a seat 35 into which a set of stamping or impression dies 36 may be fitted, and held in fixed position on member 34 by means of set screw 37 carried by a bridge bar 38 aflixed to member 34 and spanning longitudinally above and across the seat 35. The unit 17 is provided with a backing plate 39 to locate the dies 36 and to take the striking impact against said dies by the slide 13. One or more tiers of dies may be fitted into the dieholding base member 34, as desired. The impact force on the backing plate is, in turn, taken by the cross member 27 and finally, by the walls 25 to which the latter member is aflixed by screws 40.

The striker slide 18 is shown U-shaped element having longitudinal legs 41 and connected at one end by a cross portion 42, and a striker bar connected to and extending between the ends of said legs 51. Said slide is disposed in alignment with the deter dies 36 and the same moves toward and from said dies in a guide channel formed by inwardly-open grooves 4-3 in the walls 25 of the support frame 15.

The solenoid 19 comprises a fixed electro-magnetic coil 50 having a field magnet 51 that resides in the space between the slide legs 41 and is afixed by bolts 52 to and supported by the plate 36. Said coil 50 has a core hole 53 into which extends a core 54 that is athxed to the slide portion 42 by a bolt 55. The spring 20 is disposed within hole 53 and in position to be compressed by the end of the core 1. Upon energization of the coil 50, the core 54 is drawn into the core hole 53, causing the slide 18 to be rapidly propelled in a direction to strike a carton against the dies 36. The spring returns the core and the slide to retracted position upon de-energization of said solenoid coil.

The master switch 21 is shown as a micro-switch that has two normally-closed terminals 56 and 57 and is provided with an actuator 53 that, when moved in one direction, opens terminals 56 and 57, and, when moved in the opposite direction, returns said terminals to closed position. The terminal 56 is connected by a conductor 59 (FIG. 5) to one terminal 60 of the solenoid coil 56.

The means 22 moves the switch actuator 58 in an upward direction to open terminals 56 and 57, thereby opening switch 21. Said means 22 61 secured to one of the legs 41 of the striker slide 18, and an arm 62 carried for free tilting movement on a pivot 63 and having a follower end 64 that is engaged with said cam. An intermediate portion 65 of the arm 62 is engaged by the lower end of switch actuater 58 and moves said actuator to terminal-opening position when, upon movement of the slide 18 to strike, the rise on cam 61 raises the follower portion 64 of the arm 62. Upon return of the slide 18 to retracted position, the .arm 62 will freely fall but the switch actuator 58 will retain its actuated position and the switch 21 will remain open.

The means 23 depresses the actuator 58 to restore the switch to closed position. Said means 23 is shown as a solenoid 66 that has a coil 67 and a floating core 68, and means 69, operated by movement of said core, to return the actuator 58 to close the switch 21. The means 69 comprises an arm 70 carried by a free pivot 71 at one end and connected at its other end to a bifurcation 72 on the end of solenoid core 68, and a downwardly extending arm end 73 on arm 79 and directed to engage the upper end of actuator 58.

When striking movement of slide 18 causes the means 22 to upwardly project the actuator 53 and open the switch. said upward movement, by pushing on arm end F is shown as a cam of the source of current.

73, raises arm 71 on its pivot 76 and causes upward projection of core 68 partly out of the coil 67, as in FIG. 2. When the coil 67 is energized, said core is sucked into the solenoid coil, causing downward movement of arm 70 on its pivot and causing arm end 73 to press downward on actuator 58 to restore switch 21 to closed position.

The operating means 24 is shown as a micro-switch 74 that has a common terminal 75 connected to one side 76 of a source of current on electric line, a normallyopen terminal 77 that is connected by a conductor 78 to the terminal 57 of the limit switch 21, and a normally closed terminal 79 that, by a conductor 80, is connected to one terminal 81 of the solenoid coil 67. Said switch 74 is provided with an elongated actuator arm 82 that has an inbent end 83 which is aligned with the holes 13 in the series of cartons 10 and enters said holes as the cartons move by, in the manner hereina'cove indicated. Between such successive cnterings of actuator end 33 into holes 13, the same lightly rides the face of the cartons.

Terminal 77 of switch 74 is in series with switch 21 through conductor 78, and with solenoid 19 through conductor 59 to solenoid terminal 60. The other terminal 8-4 of solenoid 19 is connected to the opposite side 85 Terminal 79 of said switch 74 is in series with solenoid 66 through conductor to terminal 81. The other terminal of solenoid 66 is connected to said side 85 of the current source.

OPERATION With current in the line and the actuator 83 of switch 74 riding the surface of the cartons 10 as the same move by, terminal 77 is closed and terminal 79 is open. Since, in this condition of the machine, switch 21 is open, there is no current flow across the line 76, 85 and both sole noids remain de-energized.

At the instant that actuator end 83 falls through an opening 13 in the moving cartons 10, the terminal 79 cioses energizing solenoid 66 and causing instant actuation of the switch actuator 58 to re-sct open switch 21 to closed condition. Since, at the same time that terminal 79 was closed, the closed terminal 77 was opened, the circuit through switch 57 (now closed) and the solcnoid 19 remains open. This condition maintains for an extremely short period of time, i.e., only during the time the actuator end 83 of switch 74 remains in an opening 13.

Immediately that the edge of said opening engages said actuator end 83, the terminals 74 and 79 are again rcversed, the terminal 74 closing and the terminal 79 opening. The latter opens the circuit to solenoid 66, since the same has already completed its switch-resetting operation. The former, by closing, now establishes an energizing circuit, through closed switch 21, to the solenoid 19, causing propulsion of the striker slide 18 to produce an impression on a carton moving past the dies 36. From FIG. 2 it will be seen that, before the impression posi' tion of the slide is reached, the rise of cam 61 will raise the arm 62 and cause iovement of switch actuator 58 to open terminals 56 and 57 of switch 21. Opening of switch 21 opens the circuit to solenoid 19 which becomes de-energized before the slide 18 strikes. Thus, the latter performs its impression operation upon its momentum, insuring that the strike is so rapid that the travel or movement of the cartons continues without interruption. Of course, spring 20 can instantly retract the slide because of dc-energization of the solenoid. The mechanical movement of the switch actuator 53, as above, re-sets the means 23 to retract core 68 of solenoid 66, thereby readying said solenoid for re-energization. An adjustable stop 86 limits this re-setting of solenoid 66 by limiting the movement of arm 70.

At this stage the line 76, 85 is open and so remains until the actuator end 83 of switch 74 falls or is projected into the next opening 13, at which time the above n is repeated.

While the foregoing has illustrated and described what is now contemplated to be the best mode of carrying out the invention, the construction is, of course, subject to modification Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it is not desired to restrict the invention to the particular form of construction illustrated and described, but to cover all modifications that may fall Within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A machine for impressing indicia on continuously moving longitudinal fiat members in end-to-end arrangements with longitudinally spaced openings in said arrangement of members, said machine comprising a die set to form said indicia on one side of said arrangement of members, a slide on the opposite side, operating means provided with an actuator in contact with said arrangement of members and aligned with the openings to enter said openings successively as the members move past the actuator, electrical means to propel the slide to strike the flat members, while the same are moving, against the die set to impress indicia on said members, means controlled by the actuator-provided means to energize said electrical means when said actuator enters an opening in said arrangement of flat members, and means controlled by the slide during movement thereof, and before reaching impressing position, to (lo-energize said electrical means before the slide reaches impressing position.

2. A machine according to claim 1 in which the lastmentioned means comprises a limit switch in circuit with the electrical means that, when open, de-energizes the electrical means.

3. A machine for impressing indicia on continuously moving longitudinal tlat members in end-to-end arrangement with longitudinally spaced openings in said arrangeient of members, said machine comprising a die set to form said indicia on one side of said arrangement of members, a slide on the opposite side, operating means provided with an actuator in contact with said arrangement of members and aligned with the openings to enter said openings successively as the members move past the actuator, electrical means to propel the slide to strike the flat members, while the same are moving, against the die set to impress indicia on said members, means controlled by the actuator-provided means to energize said electrical means when said actuator enters an opening in said arrangement of fiat members, means controlled by the slide during movement thereof, and before reaching impressing position, to deenergize said electrical means before the slide reaches impressing position, an energizing electrical circuit inter-connecting said operating means and the electrical means, a limit switch in series in said circult and having open and closed positions, and means controlled by the mentioned actuator, when in contact with the arrangement of members between openings, to shift said limit switch from closed to open position.

4. A machine according to claim 3 in which the lastmentioned means comprises a moving-core solenoid, the limit switch is provided with an actuator, and means mechanically connecting the core of said solenoid with said actuator.

5. A machine for impressing indicia on continuously moving longitudinal fiat members in end-to-end arrangemont with longitudinally spaced openings in said arrangement of members, said machine comprising a die set to form said indicia on one side of said arrangement of members, a slide on the opposite side, operating means provided with an actuator in contact with said arrangement of members and aligned with the openings to enter said openings successively as the members move past the actuator, electrical means to propel the slide to strike the fiat members, while the same are moving, against the die set to impress indicia on said members, means controlled by the actuator-provided means to energize said electrical means when said actuator enters an opening in said arrangement of flat members, means controlled by the slide during movement thereof, and before reaching impressing position, to deenergize said electrical means before the slide reaches impressing position, an energizing electrical circuit inter-connecting said operating means and the electrical means, a limit switch in series in said circuit and having open and closed positions, means controlled by the mentioned actuator, when in contact with the arrangement of members between openings, to shift said limit switch from closed to open position, and means in the circuit to reset the limit switch to open position when the mentioned actuator is moved by the edge of an opening into which it extends.

6. In a machine for impressing indicia on continuously moving longitudinal flat members in end-to-end arrangement with longitudinally spaced openings in said arrangement of members, a machine frame provided with a longitudinal guide through which said arrangement of members moves longitudinally, a cross member in said frame on one side of and parallel to said guide and having a top-open seat therein, a die unit disposed in said seat and having impression ends that are laterally directed toward and transversely to the plane of the mentioned longitudinal guide, and means engaging the cross member and die unit to hold the latter against lateral movement in any direction, said die unit being insertable into and removable from the seat only through the open top thereof and in a direction parallel to said plane of the guide.

7. In a machine for impressing indicia on continuously moving longitudinal fiat members in end-to-end arrangement with longitudinally spaced openings in said arrangement of members, a machine frame provided with a longitudinal guide through which said arrangement of members moves longitudinally, a cross member in said frame on one side of and parallel to said guide and having a top-open seat therein, a die unit disposed in said seat and having impression ends that are laterally directed toward and transversely to the plane of the mentioned longitudinal guide, a slideway in said frame transverse to the mentioned guide, a striker slide in said slideway in opposed relation to the die unit, a controller in feeler engagement with the arrangement of members, and means controlled by said controller to propel the striker slide in a direction to produce an impression of the die unit on said arrangement of members.

8. In a machine according to claim 7, means controlled by the slide during its initial movement to free the latter for free impressing movement when striking is achieved.

9. In a machine according to claim 8, the means controlled by the controller being electrical and including an energizing circuit, and the slide-controlled means comprising a normally-closed limit switch in said circuit that is opened during said initial movement of the slide to open said circuit to the slide-controlling means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,595,465 

1. A MACHINE FOR IMPRESSING INDICIA ON CONTINUOUSLY MOVING LONGITUDINAL FLAT MEMBERS IN END-TO-END ARRANGEMENTS WITH LONGITUDINALLY SPACED OPENINGS IN SAID ARRANGEMENT OF MEMBERS, SAID MACHINE COMPRISING A DIE SET TO FORM SAID INDICIA ON ONE SIDE OF SAID ARRANGEMENT OF MEMBERS, A SLIDE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE, OPERATING MEANS PROVIDED WITH AN ACTUATOR IN CONTACT WITH SAID ARRANGEMENT OF MEMBERS AND ALIGNED WITH THE OPENINGS TO ENTER SAID OPENINGS SUCCESSIVELY AS THE MEMBERS MOVE PAST THE ACTUATOR, ELECTRICAL MEANS TO PROPEL THE SLIDE TO STRIKE THE FLAT MEMBERS, WHILE THE SAME ARE MOVING, AGAINST THE DIE SET TO IMPRESS INDICIA ON SAID MEMBERS, MEANS CONTROLLED BY THE ACTUATOR-PROVIDED MEANS TO ENERGIZE SAID ELECTRICAL MEANS WHEN SAID ACTUATOR ENTERS AN OPENING IN SAID ARRANGEMENT OF FLAT MEMBERS, AND MEANS CONTROLLED BY THE SLIDE DURING MOVEMENT THEREOF, AND BEFORE REACHING IMPRESSING POSITION, TO DE-ENERGIZE SAID ELECTRICAL MEANS BEFORE THE SLIDE REACHES IMPRESSING POSITION. 